According to the texts, is coming to Shirdi a personal choice, or is there a divine influence at play?

Chapter 35 suggests that being drawn to Sai Baba is not merely a personal choice but a result of his divine inspiration. The text explicitly states, "It is Baba himself who gives them the inspiration; only then do they step out." This indicates a spiritual calling initiated by Baba, who stimulates an individual's natural disposition and leads them onto the spiritual path. The story of Boss Dharamsee exemplifies this. Although he came with clinical curiosity, his transformative experience with the grapes, which turned from seeded to seedless, erased his ego and created a "firm determination" to return. As Chapter 35 shows, what began as a skeptical visit ended in the birth of deep devotion, illustrating how Baba accomplishes his work of drawing souls to him.